Engine-valve-operating mechanism.



` E. W. ALBERS.

NGINE VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

vAPPLICATIONA FILED MAR. 18, I9I5.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

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E. W. ALBERS.

' ENGINE VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.v

APPLICATION man MAR. 18, 1915.

' Patented Jan, 18, 1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANoaRAPM C0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

E. W. ALBERS.

ENGINE VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

4APPLICATION FILED MAH. I8, 1915.

HMH-M515 THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH So., WASHINGTON, D. C;

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`EDWIN' W. ALBERS, OF DOVER, OHIO.

ENGINE-VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. v18, 1916.

Application filed March 18, 1915. Serial No. 15,279.

citizen of the United States, residing atl''i Dover, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have `invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Valve-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for automatically openingl and closing, or controlling the intake valves of steam engines, and it has for its objects the provision of simple and durable means for accomplishing the required result in a positive manner.

It provides a construction that is economical in installation and in upkeep, that admits of easy and accurate adjustment, and that is equally efficient when applied to either high or low speed engines.

A further object of the invention is the provision of valve` operating mechanism in which the principal elements for actuating both intake valves are confined in a single oil tight housing that is adaptable to application to any position on the cylinder, either top, side, or end, thereby providing the advantage of readily and economically accommodating the mechanism to any desired location of valves. i

The present invention provides the arrangement and combination of a system of co-acting leversand connecting links actu-y ated by a rod eccentrically connected with the crank shaft, whereby a Quick movement is imparted tok one of the intake valves at the proper timerv toopen same, while the opposits intake valve islield absolutely at rest in a closed position, and on the reciprocating movement of the piston the operation of the two valves is reversed.

In the Corliss and other `types of engine construction heretofore the valves have been operated b v ,eccentric rods from the crankshaft, which is beyond doubt the most logi-v cal way of timing the valves relative to the action of the piston, but as far as I have been able to ascertain, up to the present time the various mechanisms for producing the required results have been complicated in construction and operation, comprising a multiplicity of (zo-acting elements, necessi! tating diflieult adjustment and possessing numerousother disadvantages when considered from the stand points ofeconomy and eciency. y 1

. modification.

It will readily be understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, that the present invention has overcome the objectionable features yheretofore encountered in engine valve operating mechanism.

In the accompanying drawingsforming f a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a horizontal steam engine showing` the improved mechamsm positioned on one sideof the cylinder. Fig. Q'is a similar view illustrating said mechanism on the end of the cylinder. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the improved mechanism with certain connections broken and the housing partially in section. Fig. fl is a .section taken substantially on line 4 4 Fig. 3, but showing the levers, links and shafts in full. Fig. 5 is a section on line .5--5 Fig. 3. Fig. 6 illustrates a modi? iication of the design of levers, and is a section on line 6-6 Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the housing of the Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic illustrations of the movements of the various elements.

To facilitate theexplanation of the invention, similar characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts in the drawings and description.

In Figs. l and 2, two different positions, relative-to the intake valves, of the casing housing the improved operating mechanism` are shown. vBy comparison of these two illustrations it will readily be seen that the invention is applicable to various positions relative to the valves, the principles of operation remaining identical, but modications in the yposition and construction of the external levers Vand connecting links being necessary to suit theconditions, therefore t0 avoid encumbering the specification, the description will be confined to the simple but practical embodiment of the invention as` illustrated, assuming vthat the eccentric is properly timed to coact with the piston and other elements in the performance of their functions.

Referring now to the drawings 1 isa cas` Ving, preferably made in one casting and members 8, 9. and 10.

1 closed, assuming ythat a, b, c and CZ are the 7. Keyed or otherwise 'rigidly attached to y the shafts 5, 6 and 7 respectively are crank A lever 11 is fulcrumed at any convenient point on the engine frame, as at 12 Figs. 1 and V2. 'lfhe member 13 of the lever 11 is connected with the eccentricrod 14, While` a link 15 connects the member 16 with the crank 8. Links 17 and 18 connect the cranks 9 vand 10, respec-v tively with 'cranks 19 and 20 which are rigidly attached to the stems 21 and 22 of the respective intake valves 23 and 24. The dif-A ference in vthelocation of the mechanism relative to the movement of the piston as shown Fig'. 2 necessitates a difference the timing of the functions, and to avoid n confusion in the identification of the different parts in `the drawings, the positions.y of the. valves 23 and 24 and their connecting `parts are reversed in Fig. 2. .y

Referring novv particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and y5, the mechanism confined Within the chamber 4and its co-action with the external elements will be described. Theshaft 5 has a crank member 25 fixed thereto, and the shafts 6` and 7 have cranks 26 and 27 fixed thereon. The crank 25 is movably 'connected with the cranks 26 and 27 by a toggle made up of links 28 and 29 connected, respectively with the' cranks 26 and 27,

both of said links being connected With a link 30 which is in turn connected With the crank 25. n y i The operation of the improved mechanism can be best understood by reference to the diagrams, in Which Fig. 8 shows the relative position of the co-acting parts -in their neutral position, or With both intake valves live steam ports in the cylinder. ,When the crank 8 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 9, through the co-action of the eccentric, the lever 11, and the link l5, there lis a positive thrust on the crank 26 in the direction of arrow, this carries'the crank 9 to theposition shown and opensthe valve 23 through the medium of the link 17 and crank 19, the

several members oscillating on their movable connections and on the fixed pivotal points 5, 6, and21. There is necessarily a consider'-k able amount of resistanceto overcome, due

to Ifriction andthe steam pressure on the v valves, this resistance makes the connection 31 a fixed point of oscillation for the link 29 during the above described action, and retains the valve124 in the closed position. When the lcrank 8 has traveled its predetermined arc, governed vof course by the eccentric, it is returned to the yneutral position, graduallyclosing the valve 23, and as it con` tinues its movement tothe position shown in Fig. 10 thevalve 24l is opened, the Vpoint 32becoming a fixed pivotal center for the link 28 and retaining the valve 23 in closed position.

While in practice it is a demonstrable fact that the resistance will cause the several elements to perform the functions above described, yettheoretically the link 27 Fig. 9, or'the link 26 Fig. 19, Would have a tendency to a slight movement in direction of arrows shown. As an emergency provision to'counteract the possible downward movev ment ofthe links 26 and 27, stop members simply removing the'externalcranks 8, 9 and 10 and then taking o the cap 3, Which can be done Without dismantling the engine, oi'

connected from the cranks 8, 9 and 10 and the housing containing the valve operating mechanism, intact, disconnected from the engine.l The last mentioned feature is extremely desirable and economical in the l manufacture of a number of engines of the same. size and design. `The Working parts can be assembled in their individual casings, the bolt holes in the flanges of said casings and their corresponding holes in the cylinder can be bored and tapped to template, the

casings are then attached to the cylinders and the external connections made with duf Vplicate parts, thus eliminating to a great extent special adjustment yto each individual engine. The cranks 26 and 27 are interchangeable, as also are the links 28 and 29, thereby providing economy in the item of patterns, and facilitating the assembling and repairing.

The mechanism as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4

Y and 5 is a practical embodiment of the im- `the links 15, 17 and 18 can be quickly dis- I iio provement, butthe invention'admits of various modifications in details kof constructiony Without departure from the general vprinciples thereof, as4 for example, in' Figs. 6 and 7 ,the member 25a While of-'different design, performs the same function, in like manner as the memberv 25, the link member 30, and the cranks 26ar and 27ar arey the respective equivalents of the members 30, 26 and 27 and perform the same functions but are of diif'erentdesign and location. Thus it Will be 'understood that I am not confined tothe y construction' as shown only'so far as limited` bythe existing state of the art and the scope.

of the annexed claims.

l/Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters ,Patent-is.;

.1. Valvel operating mechanism' lfor enf gines comprising a lever, means for actuating said lever in timed relation to the piston i movement, two cranks on' a shaft mounted l cn in suitable bearings, connecting ymeans from one of said cranks to the lever, a link connected with the other of said two cranks,

from the last named cranks tocranks on the y valves.

' 2. In valve operating mechanism for enl gines the combination of a lever; means ork actuating said leverk in timed relation to the piston movement; a housing adapted to be attached to the engine; a series of three parallel crank shafts mounted ink said housing; cranks on each of said shafts; a' three `link toggle connection between said cranks;

a second crank on one of said shafts; con# necting means from said second crank to the lever; secondary cranks on each of the other shafts; and connecting means from the last f named cranks toy cranks attached to the valves. c y l y 3. In valve operating mechanism oren 'y gines the combination of the valves; a casing; a series of levers mounted in said casing; a three link toggle connection between said levers; levers on the valves; connecting means from the valve levers to levers mounted in the casing; a lever monntedabetween the casing and crank-shaft of the engine; means Jfor actuating the last namedr lever in timed relation to the piston movement; and connecting means `from thelast` named lever to a lever mounted in the casing, whereby the valves y are alternately opened `and closed in timed relation tothe operation of the piston.

4. n valve operating mechanism for engines the combination of the piston; they crank-shaft; an eccentric rod actuated by an I eccentric on said crank-shaft; ka lever to whlch said keccentric rod 1s connected;` a

casing adaptedto jbe attachedto the engineg a series of leversmounted in said casing; a three Vflink toggle connection between said levers; connecting means from oneof the levers mounted in the casing to theeccen tric-rod lever; valves connected withqthe y cylinder; levers on said valves; and connecting meansfrom the valve levers to levers mounted inthe casing, whereby the valves are alternately opened and `closedin timed relation to the operation of the piston.

5. In valve operating mechanismvr for engines` the combination of a lever; means for l actuating said lever in timed relation tothe piston movement; a casing adapted to be attached to the engine; a series of shafts mounted 'in said casing; levers on veach of said shafts within the casing; links connected with each of said levers and having a universal connection with each other; stop members for limiting the throw of the levers; levers on said shafts outside the casing; connecting means from the first named lever toone of the external casing levers; the cylinder valves; levers attached tosaid valves; and connecting means from saidv levers to external casing levers. EDWINW. ALBERS.

Witnesses:

- O. C. BILLMAN,y L. F. Grmswonn.`

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

